Election Commission calls pre-poll consultation on Monday

BANGKOK, May 10 (TNA) – Thailand's Election Commission has sent out letter of invitation for all political parties to meet on May 15 to discuss preparations for the next general election.

Election commissioner Prinya Nakchatree said he was confident that all parties would be represented at the session and he insisted that the four-member Election Commission will stay in the job until the date is set for the election.

The embattled EC has been urged by the judiciary members to resign in light of the Constitutional Court’s ruling that the general election it organised on 2 April was unconstitutional.

Evading questions about the possible departure of the EC, Mr Prinya said he cannot speak on behalf of other EC members but he will definitely turn up for work on Thursday.

EC members will decide when to quit when the election date is set, he said.

Mr Prinya said he was confident that all parties would attend the session next Monday, although Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silpa-archa said they no longer have faith in the EC.

He said that all parties should be present at Monday’s consultation now that everyone pledged to abide by the Court’s ruling to ensure successful polling.

TNA
10/05/2006

Democrats to boycott EC pre-poll meet on Monday

BANGKOK, May 11 (TNA) - The Democrat Party announced that it will not attend the meeting on Monday called by the Election Commission to discuss preparations for the upcoming general election.

Speaking at a press conference after the Party's executive committee meeting Thursday, Deputy Democrat Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit said the current lineup of the Election Commission lacks the legitimacy to
perform the duty of organising fresh polls. The Party wants a new EC that can promise greater transparency than the incumbent.

The EC is not qualified now that the three courts have ruled that the snap election it organised on April 2 was unconstitutional. The courts also politely urged EC members to resign to pave the way for the judiciary
branch to play a role in organising the election, he said.

Although the Democrat Party, along with the Chart Thai Party, won't be present at Monday's meeting, it will field candidates for the election. It wants a new EC that can guarantee organisation of free and fair voting.

In addition to its decision to shun the Monday meeting, the Democrat Party appointed its leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, as chairman of the party's election commission, while party Secretary-General Suthep Thuagsuban has been appointed electioneering campaign director.

Democrat leader Abhisit said what the party wants is a guarantee that the new election will be free, fair and just--by not having it organised by the incumbent national Election Commission that was responsible for the failures of the April 2 election.

Mr. Abhisit said the EC must rise to the occasion by accepting the Court ruling regarding the failed April polls which it organised, and now that others have done their share in breaking the political deadlock, with
the Opposition parties announcing they will field candidates and the Thai Rak Thai Party acceding to not convening the Parliament, it is time for the Commission to act in the national interest.

"The Election Commission is [now] the only party which has not yet clarified its position," he said, adding that setting polling date is secondary to the task of building confidence that the next election will be free and fair.

TNA
11/05/2006